Responsive Site has "Not Found" Errors for mobile/ and m/ in Google Search Console

[JustinTaylor88]

We have recently launched a new responsive website for a client and have noticed 2 "Not Found" errors within Google Search Console for /mobile and /m

Both these URLs are not linked from anywhere within the site. However Google is reporting them as being linked from the homepage.

This is not the first site we have seen in which Google has reported this error, however the other site was not a mobile friendly site.

My thoughts are to 301 them back to the Homepage. Anybody else have any thoughts on this? or have recently received the same errors?

[JustinTaylor88]

Thanks for the quick reply Martijn,

I will 301 these back to the homepage. Just strange that Google is reporting these when they do not exist anywhere on the site.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

This happens sometimes - I have had issues with this as well. Usually the case was that when the site was in mobile responsive, a link changed to pointing to a 404 page, or it was improperly typed into the link itself.

I would take a look at your internal links and see which one is giving you trouble. Usually a quick ScreamingFrog crawl can help you find these. While a 301 redirect will help pass 90-99% of the link equity, it's important to remember that your homepage is more often than not the most important page on your website, with the most equity. Links that live off that page are usually the most important pages below the homepage, so you want that equity to transfer at full strength where possible.

As Martijn said, if it's 2 404s, that's not that big of deal, but at the same time if those links are pointing to important pages, you want that link to be updated so those pages can get the full effect.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[N1ghteyes]

Nothing much i can add to Martijin's response, you might want to run a scan with Screaming Frog or Xenu to triple check, but 301's should be fine.

[Martijn_Scheijbeler]

Just 301 them to the homepage or provide a proper 404 error to make sure you have the right set up for Google on this. I wouldn't be to worried about 2 404 errors.